All national papers wrote that the ruling LDP will elect the successor to President Suga in the leadership race this afternoon, projecting that Administrative Reform Minister Kono and former Foreign Minister Kishida are likely to clash head-on in a runoff since Kono probably will not be able to win a majority in the first round of voting. Mainichi speculated that Kishida may have a slight advantage in a runoff because Diet members’ votes are given slightly more weight than in the initial round and many lawmakers supporting former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Takaichi, who is expected to finish third in the first round, are inclined to back Kishida in the final vote.     

Mainichi said, however, that the faction led by Secretary General Nikai may hold the key to the final outcome as most of the group’s 47 parliamentarians are likely to vote in unison in the runoff and the powerful politician is reportedly determined not to allow Kishida to win since Kishida is opposed to anyone other than the party president holding a key party portfolio for more than three years. Nikai, who has held his current position more than five years, told the press yesterday that he has yet to decide whom he will vote for.